NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Wataru Endo made it clear Monday night that Japan has very high expectations for this field. world cup.
The Japan national team captain said, “I want to do my best with pride and passion so that we can achieve something that has never been seen before in the history of Japanese soccer.”
liverpool defense team midfielder and his teammates After arriving early Monday morning, he spent nearly an hour at open practice jogging around the pitch at Geodis Park, home of Major League Soccer’s Nashville club. The World Cup begins on Sunday, with Japan playing Group F against the Netherlands in Arlington, Texas, before hosting Nashville.
More than 5,000 fans were in the stands watching the open practice. Some came from Japan, others from Michigan, Atlanta, and even Austin, Texas, to see Samurai Blue. Japan ended the nearly hour-long session with the players taking turns throwing and handing out gifts to fans.
Takuro Kaya and his son Yuhi wore team uniforms after driving from North Carolina to cheer on Japan. Kaya said her son’s favorite player is Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma, who is out of the squad with a hamstring injury, but his son is looking forward to watching other players such as midfielder Junya Ito.
Kaya and her son also plan to travel to the Dallas area to watch Japan play, hoping for a breakthrough at this World Cup.
“We are very excited and motivated to be here,” Kaya said.
Japan This will be their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, and they are aiming to advance to the group stage for the third consecutive time. At the last World Cup in Qatar, Japan surprised Germany and Spain with two of the biggest upsets.
After losing on penalties to eventual semi-finalist Croatia in 2022, the next step is to get past the round of 16.
Japan got a taste of the weather in Nashville, where they were hit by a severe thunderstorm just before public practice, resulting in a hot and humid situation under the scorching sun. Goaltender Zion Suzuki said he likes Nashville as a host city and doesn’t expect weather to be an issue.
“We practiced in Mexico and it was really hot,” Suzuki said. “So, of course it’s going to be hot here in the U.S., but we’re gearing up for that right now.”
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Associated Press writer Christine M. Hall contributed to this report.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
